A New Girls' Flag Football League is Launching in Providence
Kate Nagle, News Editor
A New Girls' Flag Football League is Launching in Providence
Lorenzo Perry is looking for flag football players this summer in Providence - specifically, girls.
With the growing popularity of the sport - and opportunities for female athletes - the seasoned football coach who runs GameDay Fitness is launching a middle school summer flag football league.
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“It’s for girls in grades six, seven, and eight,” said Perry, who was a standout for La Salle before playing for Bryant University. “At the high school level, there’s a huge push to make it a sanctioned sport.”
The GameDay Fitness program runs from June 21 through July 26 at Hope High School, and this week, GoLocal spoke with Perry about his new summer program.
Calling All Girls
For Perry, his goal is to help prepare players for opportunities on the horizon.
“I think this is a great opportunity to provide a platform for girls to gain exposure to a sport that’s growing exponentially,” said Perry.
At the collegiate level, the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact voted at its spring meeting this year to recommend Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add a National Collegiate Flag Football Championship.
The committee oversees the Emerging Sports for Women program, which aims to grow participation and competitive opportunities for women's sports across the NCAA.
"Girls want to play. Whenever you give access and opportunity to an easier way to play, the better the success and numbers in participation you see," said Jacqie McWilliams Parker, Chair of the Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact. "The young women who are currently playing at our institutions, some never even thought about being able to play in college. Now they have their opportunity.”
Perry, who says he’s always had an “open approach” to co-ed football, says he has seen growing interest in a girls-only division.
“It’s coming to the Olympics in 2028…and the NFL is doing a tremendous job of really pushing and promoting - and putting finances behind - growing the game,” said Perry.
“So I think that in every kind of sector of the sport, whether it be at the professional level, the collegiate level, the high school level, you’re really starting to see the popularity explode,” said Perry, who said that last fall, he was part of a campaign with Toyota and the NFL to promote female flag football.
“So I've just seen it really starting to take off, and I just want to kind of put together a platform for girls over here,” said Perry.
Individuals and teams can register here.